TriMet and Oregon Metro were awarded the 2011 Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Environmental Document Presentation for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) produced for the 7.3-mile project that includes 10 stations and the first bridge constructed over the Willamette River in more than 40 years.

The EIS details the benefits, impacts and costs of the project in a clear, concise publication meant to be easily understood by the public and project stakeholders. When presenting the award this week, the FTA noted that the project EIS "distinguishes itself in a number of ways," highlighting the document's "plain language and clear writing," easy to understand graphics, and inclusion of climate change information, along with the project's overall "comprehensive public involvement approach" and detailed website.

The project EIS was prepared by Metro and TriMet with key consultant assistance from Parametrix.

The 7.3-mile project is the region's sixth MAX line to be built and extends from the terminus of the MAX Green and Yellow lines at Portland State University to South Waterfront, Southeast Portland, Milwaukie and Park Avenue in Clackamas County.

The project includes 10 stations and the first bridge constructed over the Willamette River in more than 40 years. It will create up to 14,000 jobs and generate $573 million in personal earnings. Federal funds will pay for half of the $1.49 billion project, state and local partners are funding the balance. TriMet's share is less than 5 percent of the project budget and will not be needed until 2013. The line is set to open in September 2015.

The Quay Valley, Calif. Hyperloop track will be built using HTT’s tube, capsule and station models. It will be instrumental in optimizing passenger system needs — such as loading, departure and safety considerations — to ensure Hyperloop is ready for larger-scale operation.

Milestones include the completion of snow and ice removal from all platforms and critical rail switches system-wide, as well as the addition of supplemental trains, doubledecker and standard passenger cars to increase capacity and combat overcrowding.

Company is responsible for the integrated tramway system, which includes the design, delivery and commissioning of 30 coupled Citadis X05 trams; power supply equipment, including APS -ground power supply; signaling systems, the energy recovery system HESOP, depot equipment and maintenance.